Published>Mon, Nov 08 10 11:44 AM
Australia snapped a run of seven straight losses in all forms of cricket when they beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the third and final limited-overs international on Sunday. Sri Lanka claimed the series 2-1 after winning the first match in Melbourne by one wicket and the second in Sydney by 29 runs.
Young fast bowlers Clint McKay and Mitchell Starc shared nine wickets as Australia dismissed Sri Lanka for 115 in 32 overs after Kumar Sangakkara won the toss elected to bat. McKay took 5-33 and Starc 4-27. Michael Clarke made an unbeaten 50 and Brad Haddin had 31 to steer Australia to 119-2 in 21.3 overs.
Australia's first win of the domestic summer went a long way in repairing their damaged confidence on the ground where they will open their Ashes Test series against England in 18 days. McKay and Starc added a note of aggression which has been absent from Australia's bowling in recent matches and Clarke and Haddin were both confident and clinical in their pursuit of a modest target.
McKay was named man of the match and Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga was man of the series.
Upul Tharanga with 28 and Chamara Silva with 33 were the only Sri Lankan batsmen to reach double figures. McKay first cracked open the tourists' top order, dismissing opener Tillakaratne Dilshan for 1 in the third over before removing both Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene for ducks.
Starc joined the Australian team Sunday in place of Peter Siddle in one of three changes. Captain Ricky Ponting was again rested while Xavier Doherty replaced Nathan Hauritz.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 115 all out, 32 overs (U Tharanga 28, C Silva 33; McKay 5/33, Starc 4/27) lost to Australia 119/2, 21.4 overs (B Haddin 31, M Clarke not out 50; Fernando 2/47) by eight wickets.
Source: Web Search
0 comments:
Post a Comment